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The Impact of Military Spending and Income Inequality on Economic Growth in Turkey, 1963-2008

Author

Listed:
  • Töngür, Ünal

    (Middle East Technical University/Economics, Ankara, Turkey)

  • Elveren, Adem

    (Sutcu Imam University/Economics, Kahramanmaras, Turkey)

Abstract

An extensive literature on the effect of military expenditures on economic growth yields conflicting results. A crucial issue that has not been investigated in this context is the possible effect of inequality. The impact of military expenditures on economic growth in Turkey has also received substantial attention. However, the majority of these studies are not constructed based on a structural model, but rather examine the causality between the variables in question. Considering these two shortcomings in the literature and the lack of consistent results, this study attempts to provide further evidence for the relationship between military expenditures and economic growth for the case of Turkey by considering income inequality within an augmented Solow growth model. Our findings for the 1963-2008 period show that while income inequality has a positive impact on economic growth, military expenditures have no significant effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Töngür, Ünal & Elveren, Adem, 2013. "The Impact of Military Spending and Income Inequality on Economic Growth in Turkey, 1963-2008," EY International Congress on Economics I (EYC2013), October 24-25, 2013, Ankara, Turkey 251, Ekonomik Yaklasim Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:eyd:cp2013:251
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Military expenditure; growth; income inequality; human capital; Solow growth model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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